West Ham came flying out of the blocks last night in their Capital One Cup 3rd round tie against Premier League newcomers Cardiff City with two goals in the opening eight minutes of the match.

In true West Ham fashion though, the game ended up being a much tighter affair than it should have been with the Hammer’s eventually triumphing 3-2 when it looked like extra time was on the cards.

The game had barely got underway when Matt Jarvis slid a ball through to the ever improving Ravel Morrison, who controlled the ball, cut inside and fired past Cardiff keeper Joe Lewis to make it 1-0 with just 19 seconds on the timer! [Read more…]

Big Sam Allardyce slammed his boys last night after their lack lustre performance in which they gave away four goals to Wigan and were dumped out of the Capital One Cup.

Allardyce made nine changes to the team that faced Sunderland last Saturday and paid the price for doing so. After the match his team got a rocket and felt the wrath of the big man when he said that his team “couldn’t defend a fish supper”.

The Hammers boss really laid into his team despite going into the lead with a strike by Modibo Maiga. He brought on youngsters in the shape of Jordan Spence, Dean Potts and Robert Hall. It was pretty disappointing for the fans too, who let the claret and blue boys know their feelings by booing them off the pitch – those that chose to stay, anyhow.

Wgan’s in form Mauro Boselli snapped up a brace in the first half either side of Ramis’ goal to make it 1-3 to the Wigan outfit only for Jordi Gómez to put the game well and truly out of Hammers’ reach with a late penalty kick that left Allardyce livid.

Comical defending

Allardyce said after his team’s dismal outing:

“We couldn’t defend a fish supper, there were so many errors from our defenders in all four goals it was comical and it’s very disappointing for me to sit there and watch that”.

“All the good work we might have done with the ball meant nothing in the end, as off the ball we were just rubbish. You make so many changes because you have to have a look at what your squad looks like and what youngsters are doing but, unfortunately, from 15 minutes on they were not good enough”.

“I don’t regret making changes but I am disappointed and upset by an embarrassing defeat. It tells me about the players I have and it means they cannot come knocking on my door saying they should be playing – they can’t after a performance like that. I can’t defend them in any way, shape or form but I have to take it on the chin as I pick the team, so it is my fault.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martínez was overjoyed at Mauro Boselli’s performance and it looks like he has finally settled down in England after being shipped out on loan on two occasions since he went to Wigan two year’s ago.

Martínez had this to say about the Argentine:

“Mauro has come back with a real desire to be successful and score goals. Now we have a real good competition in the forward line”. “He looked sharp with his build-up play and has that clinical finishing in front of goal. Now it is a matter of allowing him to settle into the Premier League and, if he is at this best or can enjoy his football, he is a real asset”.

All in all it was a risky decision to change so many players and Allardyce has unfortunately paid a high price with the Hammers being dumped out of the Capital One Cup and suffering their first home defeat this season. I suppose we could say that he should give the youngsters a fair crack of the whip but as Allardyce has already said: “the defending was comical”.

My advice is do not mess around with a team that you know can deliver the goods. West Ham aren’t Barcelona, just yet 😉 – who can afford to change nine players at the drop of a hat and still expect a win. Go with the flow and go with what you know. The Hammers should have given Wigan a better run for their money – for crying out loud, we even made them look good!

West Ham are through to next round of the Capital One Cup after goals from Nicky Maynard and new boy Modibo Maiga helped the Hammers ease past Crewe 2-0 at The Boleyn.

Maynard, who is a product of the famous Crewe academy, opened the scoring for West Ham with a sweetly struck volley from inside the box and in front of the travelling support, Maynard however refused to celebrate in front of the fans of his old club.

Maynard, 25, joined Crewe as a seven-year-old and scored 35 goals in 67 appearances for the club before moving to Bristol City in 2008.

Maynard & Maiga Celebrate

Modibo Maiga marked his full début for West Ham by doubling the Hammers lead from close range after the half time break as we eased into the third round.

Sam Allardyce made 10 changes from Saturday’s 3-0 Barclays Premier League defeat to Swansea, with club captain Kevin Nolan the only player in the starting eleven to feature from that defeat.

Maynard’s future has been uncertain of late with some corners saying he could be sold, however West Ham No 2 Neil McDonald disagreed with this in his assessment of Maynard after the game:

Nicky Maynard needed a game and he scored against his old team. He has put in a decent performance and that is all you can do – a decent performance and a goal.

He is certainly a goal-scorer and he took his goal very, very well.

He is an important member of the squad and he has put in a good performance today and given the manager something to think about, that’s for sure.

Modibo Maiga also had a very lively game and Sam Allardyce will be scratching his head wondering how Maiga only scored once, the Mali striker was denied by Crewe’s goalkeeper from distance twice, sent a volley over from close range and also headed wide from a good position.

A few markers were put down by players pushing for inclusion for our next league game against Fulham on Saturday, but a win and a clean sheet was just the tonic after the self destruction against Swansea at the weekend.